Pneumatic abdominal support.



R. S. CARLING.

PNEUMATiC ABDOMLNAL SUPPORT. APPLlcATloN FILED Noyfe. 191s.

Patented July 9, 1918.

vInl/er1@ or Rose S. Carlin UNrrEn STATES nosa* scHUnssLEn cAnLrive, or Los ANGELES, QALIFOBNIA.'

PNEUMATIC ABDOMINAL SUPPORT.

Specication of Letters llatent.

Patented July 9, 191s.

Application led November 6, 19.16. Serial No. 129,757.

-trating a completel assembled truss provided with the speclalpadwith which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation illustrating the pad -as adjustably mounted upon the end of a truss frame, and further disclosing the disposition of an inflating valve mounted upon the back of the ad.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows, and particularly illustrates the specific construction and formation of the pad.

Fig. 4 is a view- 1n enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the edge of the assembled pad showing in a detailed manner the relative disposition ofthe layers of material embodied in the truss construction.

Referring to -the drawingsv more particularly, 10 indicatesi'a truss frame wh1ch may b e formed of any construction. .One end is provided with asecuring strap 11 formed with eyelets 12 by which the frame may be secured around the body of the wearer when in engagement with a screw-pin 13. The screw-pin 13 extends through an adjustable bracket 14 and terminates within the back of a truss `pad 15, thereby allowing the pad to be pivotally mounted in relation to the bracket. The outer end ofthe bracket 14 is provided with an arcuate slot 16 through which a set screw 17 extends to lock the ad in its adjusted position. It will be un erstood that the truss frame construction and the pad mounting here described are not essential to the present invention and further that a pad'of the character disclosed may bel utilized in combination with any other preferred securing truss, girdle, or bandage support. The pad 15 is formed with a rigid back 18 which is referably of metal and over Whlch a fabrlc covering 19 is placed. This covering extends over the entire surface of the back plate and is held in its intended position by a suitable adhesive. Mounted upon one side of said plate and secured to the'covering 19 by an adhesive is a rubber Y sheet 20 which serves as the back wall of a pneumatic pad 21. The outer marginal edge of the rubber sheet 20 is drawn over a front 'wall 22 of the pad and vulcanized therewith.' Prior to the positioning of the front sheet 22, a valve body 23 was propjerly mounted within and through an opening 24 formed in the back plate 18. This body is held in position by a lock-nut 25 and contains an inflating valve 26 which will hereafter be described. vAfter the sheets 2O and 22 forming the pneumatic' pad have been united, a marginal rubber strip 27 is bound around the edge of the pad and overlaps the back plate where itis properlyv secured by an adhesive material. A pad 'covering 28 formed of a soft fabric is secured by an adhesive to thevface of the front' pad wall 22 and brought over the marginal strip 27 and there secured. After this operation, a sheet 29 of fabric is placed over the back of the plate 18 and around the edges thereof in a manner to bind the edges` of the marginal strip 27 and the fabric 28.

The pad 21 is adapted to be inflated through the valve 26 and maintained in its inated condition by the same means. This valve is cylindrical in shape and is formed with a hollow central portion 30 which is formed with a circumferential slot 31 in communication with a threaded bore 32 of the valve body 23. The outer periphery of the member 26 is threaded throughout its length and has a reduced end portion which forms a clearance channel around the member for the passage of air from the hollow central portion of the valve through an opening 33 in the valve body, this opening being in communication with the interior of the pad. A packing disk 34 of suitable material is secured upon the inner end of the valve member and when the member is screwed into its innermost position this disk will bear upon and positively -close the opening 33 to the pad. .The valve member 26 is adapted to be manipulated by an inating stem which is not shown in theI dr'awmgs and which is formed with -externall tapered end ortions adapted to'be 'Wedge' into the hol ow central. portion 30 and allow the valve to beI rotated.

l In adaptin the truss for a particular use the pad 1s a justably fixed tothe bracket 14 by the set screw 17, after which it may be iniated to a desired degree of hardness by inserting the tapered end of an iniation stem within the hollow central portion of the vvalve member 26 and thereafter rotating themember 26until the packing disk 34 is relieved froml the opening 33. By blow- 'through the opening 33 yinto the the desired amount 'of air has ing throughthe inflatin'g stem,`air will pa into the bore of the valve body through the\` vslot 32 and around the reduced end portion of said body and will thereafter pass vBad. 'When into the pad, the valve stem 'may be turnedl to draw the packing disk 34 upon the opening 33 and thereby prevent the leakage ,of

intended.

air from the (fad. After the pad has thus been prepare Athe device may be used as It will thus be seen that the pad here provided is especially valuable for use with surgical apparatus .when it is desired to ap- 'ply a gentle and firm pressure to weakened parts of the human body, and that the padmay be readily adapted for use under various conditions and where varying pressures l are required. It will also be noted that, due

to the detailed construction of the pad, it not only provides a soft, pliable bearing een forced c nausea cementedto the, metal back, a sheet of soft rubber cemented to the fabric cover upon lits marginal edge extending beyond the metal back all the way' around,a 'front wall having its marginal edge 'placed near to the marginal ed e of the back plate and within the margine edge of the rubber sheet andl vulcanized, a marginal rubber .strip forming a binding around the edge of the back plate and overlapping the edge ofthe back plate and cemented to the back platefabric cover and to the-marginal porti of the rubber sheet extending beyondthe edge of and pro-v Se the inner side of the metal back and having the back plate, a cover of soft fabric ce,- v

mented to the facev of the front wall and extending vover the marginal strip forming the sot'edge-around the back plate, and a pneumatic valve inserted through theA lback plate and coverings.

In testimony whereofI I havesigned my name to this specification. A

Rosa sCIfIUEssLnRl oARL-iNG. 

